"I asked around and obviously people thought it was a weird trade. Basically what it goes back to, and you can find the story if you choose to google it, during training camp Downie got mad at Landeskog for a trip during a scrimmage and he drilled him. And I was just told that from that day... I heard that the Avalanche decided they were going to make the change at that time."

Friedman also mentions what he believes to be the thought process behind trading for Max Talbot.

"The timing of it is still very odd... but I was told basically the Avalanche had decided that when that happened and Downie was kind of unapologetic about it, that the time was going to come where he was going to get dealt."

He continued to say:

"I believe Philly was specifically targeted because they knew that Philly would probably have interest knowing the guy. The other thing too is one of Patrick Roy's best friends and coaching buddies is a guy by the name of Benoit Groulx who coaches in the Quebec League. Benoit Groulx and Max Talbot went to the Memorial Cup final together, and I think Roy had some advice that he was the kind of guy you wanted and Colorado specifically targeted that deal."

Thanks for that. Definitely gives a plausible explanation to a weird trade. Gotta say, Downie was a guy I'd identified at the beginning of the season as a possible trade target. He'd fit in perfectly with Malkin and Neal.

Niskanen for Downie would have made a lot of sense for both teams. But I guess that ship's sailed (though Downie could be moved again I suppose, as he's a ufa).

Not necessarily. If trading Downie was a loaded gun, they were just waiting for the right time to pull the trigger. They had a distraction to the Varly situation locked and loaded... definitely convenient timing.